NEW YORK, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment today announced their intent to form a new 5th network, The CW, to be launched in the fall of 2006. The new broadcasting network will be a joint venture between Warner Bros. Entertainment and CBS Corporation, with each company owning 50%. In an important strategic move that secures major market distribution for The CW, it was announced that Tribune Broadcasting and the CBS Corporation's UPN affiliates have agreed separately to sign 10-year affiliation agreements with the new network.

The announcement for the new network was made today in New York by Leslie Moonves, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation and Barry Meyer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Bros. Entertainment. The Tribune Broadcasting affiliation agreements were announced by Dennis FitzSimons, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tribune Company.

At the same time, it was announced that CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment will cease operations of their respective networks -- UPN and The WB. The WB and UPN will continue to broadcast their respective network schedules independently until the fall.

Obviously everything's up for grabs at this point. But they did mention a seven-night schedule, which means most of the UPN/WB programming has a shot to continue, and my impression was that SmackDown was always the highest rated UPN series, and was doing good numbers for them on Fridays.

Not that it always translates into revenues. Might give the CW just that extra bit of leverage for the next renewal, as you wouldn't think any of the other broadcast networks are an option.

Originally posted by the press releaseAs the top creative executive, Ostroff will have available a line-up of some of the most popular programming that appeals to young adults in the media business. These programming assets range from hit reality series such as "America's Next Top Model" and The WB's "Beauty and the Geek," to hit dramas like The WB's "Smallville," "Gilmore Girls," "Supernatural," and UPN's "Veronica Mars" as well as UPN's hit comedies "Everybody Hates Chris" and "Girlfriends" and The WB's hit comedy "Reba." In addition the WWE's "Smackdown," which has been a mainstay at UPN, is expected to play a role in the schedule.

Play a role, but they leave the opening that there might be changes. The big advantage is they already got moved to Friday nights. What's WB got there?

What I Like About YouLiving with FranRebaTwins

Reba's specifically mentioned in the press release, but they could slide it into UPN's Monday/Tuesday comedy blocks. WB was last in ratings on Friday last week, and every week for the last five. SmackDown's safe.

Sheesh, it seems like for the past year all anyone has talked about with Smackdown is when it's gonna be cancelled.Contract was up? Clearly gonna be cancelled.UPN folding? Clearly gonna be cancelled.Brock Lesnar leaves? Might as well be cancelled.Batista down? Cancel it.

There's never been any indication from anyone involved with UPN or it's parent company that SD is in any danger.

I think it's kind of a dead issue.It draws good ratings. It's not going anywhere any time.

Eh, as long as SmackDown's still around, I could give a shit about any of the other shows on UPN, or WB for that matter. Although I have to ask-- just what the hell is "The CW", anyway? Honestly, they had time to think up a name for their network, and that's the best they could come up with?

Originally posted by ekedolphinWow, two small, sucky networks join forces to combine into one super-massive sucky network!

Eh, as long as SmackDown's still around, I could give a shit about any of the other shows on UPN, or WB for that matter. Although I have to ask-- just what the hell is "The CW", anyway? Honestly, they had time to think up a name for their network, and that's the best they could come up with?

Originally posted by flairforthegold13Sheesh, it seems like for the past year all anyone has talked about with Smackdown is when it's gonna be cancelled.Contract was up? Clearly gonna be cancelled.UPN folding? Clearly gonna be cancelled.Brock Lesnar leaves? Might as well be cancelled.Batista down? Cancel it.

There's never been any indication from anyone involved with UPN or it's parent company that SD is in any danger.

I think it's kind of a dead issue.It draws good ratings. It's not going anywhere any time.

Here are a few issues that need to be looked at:Will Vince be happy come the week after Mania when SD is pre-empted in New York and Boston for the next 20 weeks due to Yankee and Red Sox games? Those games draw much higher ratings in the local markets, so those affiliates aren't going to give up their Friday Night over the air packages to broadcast SD in its regularly scheduled time slot.SD is currently the only program that is the entire evenings programming on a network. Will the new network still want SD as a 2 hour program, or will it want it as an hour program so that it would either be a lead in for a program or follow a program and hope to use SD to build another program?Is being on over the air on CW better than being on cable on USA with a few late night appearances on NBC? Vince would know what he is dealing with should he negotiate with USA and it would put the programming under one corporate umbrella rather than dealing with two corporate entities.

Originally posted by thecubsfanVariety reports that UPN/CW? reached a deal to keep SmackDown! for 2 more years. You have to 14 paragraphs down to see it and it's only a small mention in a larger article about the merger.

(edited by thecubsfan on 25.1.06 1112)

I'm personally happy that they're going to remain there for a while. I've personally been enjoying Smackdown more over the past few weeks than RAW. I just wish it could go back to Thursdays, but I understand why it probably won't.

Guess the also squashes the rumors of "ending the brand extension" as well.

OVW currently airs on two WB channels in Kentucky (and a cable access channel in Dayton, OH), and have been mainstays there since they first began airing OVW. WBKI is the WB channel while another channel in town, WFTE is the UPN station here in Louisville. Neither station knows who will end up getting the CW in September.

According to today's Louisville paper, the WB station WBKI is a rarity in that they have had continued better ratings than the UPN station in town. If they get the deal, would they end up wanting to move OVW? Leave it in its solid station at 11 on Saturday nights? Perhaps put it after Smackdown wherever it ends up?

If WBKI loses the deal, will they be able to continue as an independent and keep OVW around?

Should be interesting to see what happens. My gut tells me that it won't make any difference, but that may just be wishful thinking.

Originally posted by thecubsfanVariety reports that UPN/CW? reached a deal to keep SmackDown! for 2 more years. You have to 14 paragraphs down to see it and it's only a small mention in a larger article about the merger.

(edited by thecubsfan on 25.1.06 1112)

I'm personally happy that they're going to remain there for a while. I've personally been enjoying Smackdown more over the past few weeks than RAW. I just wish it could go back to Thursdays, but I understand why it probably won't.

Guess the also squashes the rumors of "ending the brand extension" as well.

From what I understand all this information is correct (restated on BetweenTheRopes radio show)...I am glad they still have a network.

I'd hate to lose Smackdown now. I'm just getting back into wrestling and Raw just doesn't cut it for me. If not for Smackdown and TNA, I'd probably go back to exclusively watching Highspots and GoldenBoy tapes.

Originally posted by flairforthegold13Sheesh, it seems like for the past year all anyone has talked about with Smackdown is when it's gonna be cancelled.Contract was up? Clearly gonna be cancelled.UPN folding? Clearly gonna be cancelled.Brock Lesnar leaves? Might as well be cancelled.Batista down? Cancel it.

There's never been any indication from anyone involved with UPN or it's parent company that SD is in any danger.

I think it's kind of a dead issue.It draws good ratings. It's not going anywhere any time.

Here are a few issues that need to be looked at:Will Vince be happy come the week after Mania when SD is pre-empted in New York and Boston for the next 20 weeks due to Yankee and Red Sox games? Those games draw much higher ratings in the local markets, so those affiliates aren't going to give up their Friday Night over the air packages to broadcast SD in its regularly scheduled time slot.SD is currently the only program that is the entire evenings programming on a network. Will the new network still want SD as a 2 hour program, or will it want it as an hour program so that it would either be a lead in for a program or follow a program and hope to use SD to build another program?Is being on over the air on CW better than being on cable on USA with a few late night appearances on NBC? Vince would know what he is dealing with should he negotiate with USA and it would put the programming under one corporate umbrella rather than dealing with two corporate entities.

Originally posted by flairforthegold13Sheesh, it seems like for the past year all anyone has talked about with Smackdown is when it's gonna be cancelled.Contract was up? Clearly gonna be cancelled.UPN folding? Clearly gonna be cancelled.Brock Lesnar leaves? Might as well be cancelled.Batista down? Cancel it.

There's never been any indication from anyone involved with UPN or it's parent company that SD is in any danger.

I think it's kind of a dead issue.It draws good ratings. It's not going anywhere any time.

Here are a few issues that need to be looked at:Will Vince be happy come the week after Mania when SD is pre-empted in New York and Boston for the next 20 weeks due to Yankee and Red Sox games? Those games draw much higher ratings in the local markets, so those affiliates aren't going to give up their Friday Night over the air packages to broadcast SD in its regularly scheduled time slot.SD is currently the only program that is the entire evenings programming on a network. Will the new network still want SD as a 2 hour program, or will it want it as an hour program so that it would either be a lead in for a program or follow a program and hope to use SD to build another program?Is being on over the air on CW better than being on cable on USA with a few late night appearances on NBC? Vince would know what he is dealing with should he negotiate with USA and it would put the programming under one corporate umbrella rather than dealing with two corporate entities.

It will be preempted through the merger in September, as UPN will still be on 38, and the Red Sox will be on 38. Same as New York where 9 will go independent while channel 11 will be CW (and, from someone who lived in an area where WPIX was shipped in solely for Yankees games for years, I always hated that the Yankees left PIX after around 50 years.) So, starting Fall 2006, no preemptions, however, from the Friday after Mania through Labor Day, preemptions of SD in 2 of the top 5 media markets.